Water Shortage Risk Mitigation Plan

Environment Waikato’s Water Shortage Risk Mitigation Plan sets out efficient and effective management to anticipate and cope with periods of water shortage due to weather conditions in the Waikato region. This Plan aims to prevent water supplies running out, and suggests proactive measures that can be taken to reduce community vulnerability before a water shortage occurs. Risk mitigation plans define the roles of Environment Waikato, district councils, and the community in managing the impacts of potential natural hazard events.

The Waikato region does not normally experience the extremes of water shortage that occur in the historically recognised 'drought' areas of New Zealand (Central Otago, East Cape, Marlborough). However there is still a slight chance that extreme water shortage could affect the Waikato region if major changes in weather patterns occur, affecting our region’s river levels and rainfall.

Water shortages can affect:

• rural water users (for example, agricultural/horticultural sectors)
  
• urban water users (residential and industrial)
  
• the environment
  
• the economy.

Environment Waikato’s Water Shortage Risk Mitigation Plan focuses on:

• environmental problems caused by water shortages
  
• planned response and recovery to lessen the effects of water shortage
  
• educating individuals and community groups on their role in reducing the adverse affects of water shortage
  
• monitoring and review.

Find out about water shortage and weather.

View or print Environment Waikato’s Water Shortage Risk Mitigation Plan from the PDF file below, or order a printed copy of the Plan through our publications pages.

Water Shortage Risk Mitigation Plan
(272 kb, 38 seconds to download, 56k modem)  

Table of contents

Executive Summary		i
Acknowledgements		iii
Background explanation		vi
Principles		vii
1	Hazard planning and management	1
	Issue	1
	Objective	1
	Policy	1
	Actions	1
	Explanation and principal reasons for adopting	2
	Environment results anticipated	6
2	Response and Recovery	8
	Issue	8
	Objective	8
	Policy	8
	Actions	8
	Explanation and principal reasons for adopting	8
	Environment results anticipated	10
3	Monitor and review	11
	Issue	11
	Objective	11
	Policy	11
	Actions	11
	Explanation and principal reasons for adopting	11
	Environment results anticipated	11
Appendix I:	Summary of actions – reducing adverse effects	13
Appendix II:	Summary of actions – response and recovery	14
Appendix III:	Summary of actions – monitor and review	15
Appendix IV:	Existing management - statutory	16
Appendix V:	Existing management – Environment Waikato documents	17
Appendix VI:	Water shortage response	18
Glossary		20
Bibliography		21
Tables
Table 1:	Water shortage management options	6
Table 2:	Roles and responsibilities	7
Table 3:	Water shortage/drought warnings/advice	9
Table 4:	Media releases	10
Figures
Figure 1:	The planning framework	viii
Figure 2:	Water shortage hazard zonation within the Waikato Region	3
Figure 3:	Water shortage risk zonation within the Waikato Region	4
Figure 4:	Management of Regional water shortage events in the Waikato Region	9